[pct-l] ultralight and dirt cheap water/camp shoes

[David Thibault]

The biggest problem I had with swapping footwear for stream crossings was in
the Sierra's and it was the mosquitoes.  If I kept moving I was fine but
near some streams when I stopped to change footwear I was mercilessly
attacked.  I still did a footwear change some times but it was dictated by
mosquitoes more than anything else.  Note: I tried to use as little Deet as
possible.

Also, I wear a plastic arch support in my shoes.  I found that for crossing
streams I could take this arch support out from my shoes and put it into my
socks and cross just using my socks - the hard support protected the bottom
of my feet.  I could then wring out the socks and let them dry on my pack.

Worked okay for me except when the mosquitoes would let not me sit around
for a minute or two swapping footwear.  YMMV.

Day-Late



>   I don't want to carry something just to cross streams, and having
> something sturdy on your feet is a good thing I've found.  After I cross, I
> may empty out the boots and dry them off a bit; unless its raining and then
> they're full of water all the time anyway. :)
>
>
>  Like many hikers it didn't take too many crossings before I gave up making
> any adjustments to my foot wear for water crossings. In 2006 the trail was
> often under water.
>
>